A visit to the Jardin Botanique du Val Rahmeh in Menton, high above the city, is a haven of biodiversity and unspoilt charm. A jewel on the Côte d’Azur! The site of the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, it offers an immersive experience in the discovery of botany. Along its winding paths, we discovered exotic and tropical plants. We also took advantage of its peaceful spaces in the heart of Mediterranean nature.
In this article, you’ll find some useful tips to help you prepare for your visit and have a wonderful time!
This guide is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Why visit the Botanical Garden of Menton?
Why is the Jardin du Val Rahmeh worth a visit? Our opinion:
The Botanical Garden of Menton is well worth a visit. In addition to its peaceful, relaxing atmosphere, we’ve included it in our selection of must-see attractions in Menton (coming soon) for 3 reasons:
- For its botanical wealth: the garden is home to an incredible diversity of plants. More than 1,500 different species can be found here, some of them very rare or even endangered.
- For its scenic beauty: we were charmed by the garden’s meticulous landscaping. It offers a wide variety of landscapes, with magnificent, photogenic views at every turn.
- For its history and heritage: it was created in the 19th century by an English collector with a passion for plants. Its history has taught us much about the English influence on the garden tradition of the Côte d’Azur.
Why is the Botanical Garden of Menton famous?
The Garden of Val Rahmeh is famous for its beauty but also, and above all, for its botanical wealth. It houses an impressive collection of exotic, tropical and subtropical plants from the 4 corners of the globe. We found rare species that delight botanical enthusiasts and curious visitors alike.
Attached to the Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle very early on (1966), the garden’s mission is to ensure the conservation of endangered species. A role that makes his collection extremely rich. It was also awarded the “Jardin Remarquable” label in 2013. As are the Citronneraie and the Jardin Serre de la Madone, also in Menton. An article on the latter will be available soon.
More information on the Jardins Remarquables de la Côte d’Azur here.
Our favorite moments
We visited the garden at the end of the day, a little before closing time, and enjoyed the peace and quiet of this late hour.
- We loved the location of the garden. Garavan Bay, in which the garden is located, resembles an open amphitheater, backed by mountains and sloping down to the sea. No matter where you look, the view is always splendid!
- The atmosphere of the garden at sunset is marvelous, full of light, backlighting and chiaroscuro. It’s a feast for the eyes, complementing the serenity of the setting. Letting yourself be led along its paths, between open spaces and shady, more intimate areas, is simply delightful.
- We were delighted by the colors of the aquatic plant pond. The blue reflection of the sky on the surface of the pond, the shimmering greens of the leaves on the water, the brilliant hues of the flowers… And the sounds of aquatic life. All is luxury, calm and pleasure. A paradise reminiscent of Monet‘s Water Lilies at Giverny.
WHERE TO STAY IN Menton
Option 1: Downtown
Enjoy the charm of the old town and all its restaurants.
We recommend..:
- Hotel de Londres – prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel Riva Art – prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel Villa Genesis – prices, pictures and availability
Option 2: Port side
Easy access to the center and beautiful views of the old town.
- Hotel Napoleon with swimming pool – view prices, pictures and availability
Option 3: Beachside
15 to 30 minutes’ walk from the center between Roquebrune and downtown, to enjoy the sea.
- Best Western Premier Hotel Prince de Galles – view prices, pictures and availability
- Résidence Pierre & Vacances Premium Julia Augusta – see prices, photos and availability
History in brief
In the early 20th century, Lord Percy Radcliffe, an Englishman with a passion for exotic plants, created the Garden of Val Rahmeh, “Valley of Rest” in Arabic-Persian. The premises were then sold to successive owners, who enriched the garden with new species.
In 1957, Miss Campbell, a wealthy British woman and botanist by training, acquired the estate. She brings in rare or spectacular species from every continent and is passionate about daturas. Her nickname, La Dame aux Daturas, intrigued us.
In 1966, Miss Campbell ceded the estate to the French government, which entrusted its management to the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle. It became a botanical garden and opened its doors to the public in 1967.
Today, the garden’s collection features an exceptional range of plants from all over the world. Its main missions are: the conservation of endangered (or even extinct) species and ethnobotany (the science that studies the relationship between plants and humans). It has been awarded the “Jardin extraordinaire” label since 2013.
How to get there: Botanical Garden of Val Rahmeh in Menton
Where is the Botanical Gardens?
- The garden is located on the heights to the east of the city, facing the sea, above Plage des Sablettes-Est and Stade Rondelli.
- It is close to the Mini Golf du Pian.
The address is as follows: Jardin Botanique Val Rahmeh, avenue Saint-Jacques, Menton (06500).
OUR TPS FOR RENTING YOUR CAR IN Provence
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- Choose a car that is powerful enough (the roads are steep) but compact (some passages are narrow).
- Think of thecomplete insurance (some roads are tortuous and narrow).
- There is a lot of demand, book it early.
How to get there?
To get to the Jardin Botanique de Menton, you have several options:
- By car: access from the center of Menton can be difficult. Traffic jams are frequent and the streets are saturated, especially during the summer season. Nevertheless, the garden is easy to find and well signposted.
- On foot: this is the option we recommend. But it’s also the sportiest way to reach the garden on the higher ground (30m gradient over 300m). It’s a 20-minute walk from the town hall to the garden.
- By bike: you can also rent a bike to explore the city and visit the garden. You’ll need electric assistance on the climb to get there! Bicycle parking is available in the garden. Find out more about the city’s rental service here.
- By bus: the extensive bus network links Menton to other towns in the area. Menton bus station is just 18 minutes from the garden. Buses 1 and 18 leave you at the Menton Stade stop, but you’ll have to finish on foot. We invite you to plan your itinerary on the official website of the agglomeration’s transport network,here.
Parking
Parking is available alongside the garden on Avenue Saint-Jacques. There are spaces available. The parking lot next to the Super U supermarket (free for 2 hours), on the seafront, is also an option, albeit a little further away.
During our visit, we parked our vehicle on Boulevard de Garavan, above Val Rahmeh. Free parking is available. Access to the garden is on foot via the Sentier de l’Ingénieur Incerti. A succession of staircases and footpaths leads down to Avenue Saint-Jacques, which you turn slightly left to reach the entrance to the Botanical Garden.
PLAN YOUR STAY IN Menton
- Things to do in Menton
- Best hotels to stay in Menton
- Best restaurants
- Menton’s most beautiful beaches (coming soon)
- Jean Cocteau Museum
Useful tips: duration, schedules, eating…
Best time to visit
Spring and autumn are generally the best times to visit the Botanical Garden de Menton. But certain events (such as the Garden Festival of Menton in June, details here) or exhibitions can be decisive in choosing the best time. Weekday mornings are ideal for enjoying the tranquility of the garden. During our visit, we enjoyed the superb light of the setting sun. But don’t forget to check the local weather forecast.
Length of visit and main difficulties
If you follow the signposts in the garden, it will take you between 1h and 1h30 to complete the tour. But if you’re passionate about it, you can spend up to 3 hours.
We recommend you wear walking shoes.
For people with reduced mobility:
- benches all along the route
- gravel paths and stairs can make visiting difficult
- car access to terrace possible
We therefore recommend staying close to the villa.
For visually impaired visitors, it’s best to be accompanied. And well shod, the ground is uneven.
Depending on the period of your visit, remember to protect yourself from mosquitoes, which are very active from May to September!
Advice on how to visit
Visitors are given a map of the garden on arrival, and the signposting along the way is very clear.
On our arrival at the site, we overheard someone praising the beauty of the flowering water lily pond. We went straight there and then back up the course in reverse, which is perfectly feasible.
A LITTLE MORE patience
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Visiting with children
The Botanical Garden has no specific activities for children. However, following the signposts on the trail with map in hand is a real orienteering race that will lead them to discover many unusual plants. It’s also an opportunity to make them aware of the fragility of species diversity and respect for the environment.
The gravelled walkways and stairs make it difficult to visit with a baby carriage. Choose a baby carrier if you’re visiting with toddlers.
Schedules and rates
The Jardin Botanique de Menton is open from November 1 to March 31, 9.30am to 5pm, and from April 1 to October 31, 9.30am to 6pm. Closed on Tuesdays, May1 and December 25.
- Full price: €7
- Reduced rate: €5
Consult the latest rates and the complete list of free and reduced rate beneficiaries here.
Guided tours
Every Thursday morning at 10:15 a.m., one of our gardeners leads a guided tour in French. It lasts between 1h30 and 2 hours. No reservation required. Find out more here.
An audioguide in 6 languages is available from reception for €1. You can also download the tour’s freemobile application onto your smartphone. You can access all the information via QR codes scattered along the tour route.
Catering
The garden is located in the hills to the east of the town. It’s also close to many restaurants. Here are our favorite addresses:
- Restaurant Casa Fuego: a 20-minute walk from the garden, this restaurant revisits Argentinian cuisine on the grill, with a breathtaking view of the Mediterranean Sea, the port and the Old Town.
- Restaurant L’Orangerie: located in the Old Town, this restaurant offers a culinary journey between the Mediterranean and Japan, which seduced us. Local, seasonal and short-distance products.
- Restaurant Le Petit Prince: a little further away, at the other end of town, we really enjoyed the refined Mediterranean cuisine and tree-lined terrace of this seaside bistronomic restaurant.
See our article on the city’s best restaurants (coming soon)
Start of the tour: from palm alley to water gardens
We were impressed by the 12 century-old Canary Island date palms. Their imposing silhouettes greet visitors as they enter. Planted in 1920 by the English owner at the time, they are emblematic of the Côte d’Azur. Yet their presence is threatened. Thousands of palm trees were imported in the 20th century. They brought with them a devastating insect, the red weevil. Its larvae devour the inside of the palm.
We were delighted by the aquatic plant pool. We loved the brightly colored water lilies, as well as other emergent and floating species: lotus, papyrus, ranunculus, lettuce, hyacinths… In addition to their aesthetic beauty, these plants play a crucial role in the garden’s ecological balance, providing a haven for aquatic fauna. Their presence adds an atmosphere of tranquillity and serenity, inviting visitors to marvel at the diversity and splendour of aquatic life.
On the right, as you descend towards the pond, don’t miss the gigantic False Kapok Tree. Native to Amazonia, it is a cousin of the baobab. It also bears superb pink flowers (from October to January) and can reach 25m in height.
Continuation of the tour: the citrus garden and giant bamboos
The citrus garden is home to a wide variety of trees: lemons, oranges, mandarins, grapefruits, citrons, kumquats, combawas… So many species with fragrant names. If Menton is famous for its lemons, the Jardin Botanique du Val Rahmeh is a precious citrus conservatory. We were fascinated by Buddha’s Hand, a mutation of the citron tree that evokes a hand in a Buddhist prayer position. Despite its strange shape, it’s actually an edible citrus fruit. Thinly sliced, it can be used to garnish dishes or candied.
Giant bamboos add a spectacular dimension to the garden’s plant diversity. Their slender stems can reach 30m in height and 20cm in width! They form dense, particularly majestic groves, lending a mysterious, intimate atmosphere to this part of the garden. What’s more, they offer a haven of coolness that we greatly appreciated during our visit on a late summer afternoon.
End of the tour: medicinal plants and the succulent rock garden
Magic, toxic and medicinal plants are a precious resource in the garden, reflecting the importance of the region’s botanical and medicinal traditions. Plants produce molecules that enable them to fight parasites, fungi, bacteria and herbivores. They also have medicinal, hallucinogenic and sometimes toxic properties. Such is the case with datura, nicknamed Witch Doctor’s Herb, so dear to the former owner of the premises, Miss Campbell, and on which we have dwelt at greater length. Magic oblige!
The succulent rock garden is a true work of botanical art! This special area of the garden is entirely dedicated to xerophytic plants, which store water in their tissues. We loved this fascinating composition, with its varied shapes and textures, made up of cacti, agaves, aloes… This little piece of land transported us to a desert setting we’re particularly fond of.
At the very beginning of the tropical fruit tree section of the garden, we really liked the silvery, violet-tinged leaves of this Persian Shield from Burma. It’s with this fond memory that we end our visit.
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Frequently asked questions
Can you picnic in Menton’s Jardin du Val Rahmeh?
To preserve the tranquility and protection of the site, and to ensure the safety of visitors, picnics and the consumption of alcohol are prohibited within the garden. Pets must also be kept on a leash. See here for all visit instructions.
Are there any special events or seasonal exhibitions in Menton’s Jardin du Val Rahmeh?
Yes, absolutely! Botanical Garden of Menton organizes numerous events linked to those of the town (the Festival des Jardins, the Fête du Citron, etc.), as well as exhibitions and conferences. We recommend that you consult the garden calendar here to plan your visit.
Is there a café or souvenir store in Menton’s Garden of Val Rahmeh?
Yes, it is. Hot and cold drinks are available in the garden, facing the sea. We tasted a locally-made ice cream, inspired by Mexican paletas, which contain lots of fruit. A delight! A water fountain is also available.
The garden store is packed with souvenirs to take home: postcards, magnets, bookmarks, posters, botanical and gardening books, perfume diffusers, and… citrus jam!
Find out more about the garden’s services here.
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO THE Côte d’Azur
- Practical advice
Successful travel on the Côte d’Azur (coming soon)
Rent a car in Provence – in Nice – in Cannes – in Marseille – in Aix-en-Provence.
Itineraries:
Weekend ideas: best-of – romantic – luxury – unusual